Dual connectivity (DC) power control

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for dynamic power allocation of a first maximum uplink power and a second maximum uplink power, wherein the first maximum uplink power is used by a first transmitter to communicate with a first access point and the second maximum uplink power is used by a second transmitter to communicate with a second access point (dual connectivity). Network parameters are determined based on characteristics and/or qualities of the downlink and/or uplink signals of a wireless communication session. In response to the determined network parameters, the WCD may be instructed to increase a first maximum uplink power and decrease a second maximum uplink power in order to establish or maintain dual connectivity without exceeding the device&#39;s maximum total uplink power.

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to dual connectivity powercontrol, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection withat least one of the figures, and as set forth more completely in theclaims.

In aspects set forth herein, a maximum uplink power for each of twotransmitters in a user equipment (UE) is dynamically adjusted in orderto improve the ability of the UE to have dual connectivity with awireless telecommunications network. While typically, a maximum uplinkpower is hard-set into a phone and is not capable of dynamicmodification, aspects herein enable one maximum uplink power to begreater than the other, based on any one or more network indicators. Aconventional power transmit scheme, therefore, may not be able toeffectively communicate with a first access point despite havingsignificantly excess power head room based on communications with asecond access point. For example, if a UE has a maximum total uplinkpower of 26 dBm, conventionally, the maximum uplink power of eachtransmitter may be set at 23 dBm (half the output wattage of 26 dBm). Ifthe UE only needs 19 dBm to communicate with the second access point,this theoretically leaves approximately 25 dBm of total power headroom.If the UE requires 25 dBm to communicate with the first access point, itwill not be able to establish a connection because each transmitter'smaximum uplink power is capped at 23 dBm, despite having 25 dBm of totalpower headroom.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used in isolation as an aid in determining the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present disclosure are described in detail belowwith reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of an exemplary computing environment suitablefor use in implementations of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of an exemplary network environment inwhich implementations of the present disclosure may be employed;

FIGS. 3A-3B each depict a representation of a first and second accesspoint wirelessly communicating with a UE in accordance with aspectsherein;

FIG. 4 illustrates how conventional beamforms of a first and secondaccess points and UE affect the ability of the UE to wirelesslycommunicate with the first and second access points;

FIG. 5 illustrates how the beamforms of a first and second access pointand UE may be impacted by dual connectivity power control to improveand/or create wireless connections to a network in accordance withaspects herein;

FIG. 6 depicts a representation of a first and second access pointwirelessly communicating with a first UE and a second UE, in accordancewith aspects herein; and

FIG. 7 depicts a flow diagram of an exemplary method for dualconnectivity power control, in accordance with aspects herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the invention is described withspecificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, thedescription itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent.Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject mattermight be embodied in other ways, to include different steps orcombinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, inconjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover,although the terms “step” and/or “block” may be used herein to connotedifferent elements of methods employed, the terms should not beinterpreted as implying any particular order among or between varioussteps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individualsteps is explicitly described.

Throughout this disclosure, several acronyms and shorthand notations areemployed to aid the understanding of certain concepts pertaining to theassociated system and services. These acronyms and shorthand notationsare intended to help provide an easy methodology of communicating theideas expressed herein and are not meant to limit the scope ofembodiments described in the present disclosure. The following is a listof these acronyms:

3G Third-Generation Wireless Technology 4G Fourth-Generation CellularCommunication System 5G Fifth-Generation Cellular Communication SystemCD-ROM Compact Disk Read Only Memory CDMA Code Division Multiple AccesseNodeB Evolved Node B GIS Geogaphic/Geographical/Geospatial InformationSystem gNodeB Next Generation Node B GPRS General Packet Radio ServiceGSM Global System for Mobile communications iDEN Integrated DigitalEnhanced Network DVD Digital Versatile Discs EEPROM ElectricallyErasable Programmable Read Only Memory LED Light Emitting Diode LTE LongTerm Evolution MIMO Multiple Input Multiple Output MD Mobile Device PCPersonal Computer PCS Personal Communications Service PDA PersonalDigital Assistant RAM Random Access Memory RET Remote Electrical Tilt RFRadio-Frequency RFI Radio-Frequency Interference R/N Relay Node RNRReverse Noise Rise ROM Read Only Memory RSRP Reference TransmissionReceive Power RSRQ Reference Transmission Receive Quality RSSI ReceivedTransmission Strength Indicator SINRTransmission-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio SNR Transmission-to-noiseratio SON Self-Organizing Networks TDMA Time Division Multiple AccessTXRU Transceiver (or Transceiver Unit) UE User Equipment UMTS UniversalMobile Telecommunications Systems WCD Wireless Communication Device(interchangeable with UE)

Further, various technical terms are used throughout this description.An illustrative resource that fleshes out various aspects of these termscan be found in Newton's Telecom Dictionary, 25th Edition (2009).

Embodiments of our technology may be embodied as, among other things, amethod, system, or computer-program product. Accordingly, theembodiments may take the form of a hardware embodiment, or an embodimentcombining software and hardware. An embodiment takes the form of acomputer-program product that includes computer-useable instructionsembodied on one or more computer-readable media.

Computer-readable media include both volatile and nonvolatile media,removable and nonremovable media, and contemplate media readable by adatabase, a switch, and various other network devices. Network switches,routers, and related components are conventional in nature, as are meansof communicating with the same. By way of example, and not limitation,computer-readable media comprise computer-storage media andcommunications media.

Computer-storage media, or machine-readable media, include mediaimplemented in any method or technology for storing information.Examples of stored information include computer-useable instructions,data structures, program modules, and other data representations.Computer-storage media include, but are not limited to RAM, ROM, EEPROM,flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile discs(DVD), holographic media or other optical disc storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and other magneticstorage devices. These memory components can store data momentarily,temporarily, or permanently.

Communications media typically store computer-useableinstructions—including data structures and program modules—in amodulated data signal. The term “modulated data signal” refers to apropagated signal that has one or more of its characteristics set orchanged to encode information in the signal. Communications mediainclude any information-delivery media. By way of example but notlimitation, communications media include wired media, such as a wirednetwork or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic,infrared, radio, microwave, spread-spectrum, and other wireless mediatechnologies. Combinations of the above are included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

By way of background, a traditional telecommunications network employs aplurality of base stations (i.e., cell sites, cell towers) to providenetwork coverage. The base stations are employed to broadcast andtransmit transmissions to user devices of the telecommunicationsnetwork. An access point may be considered to be a portion of a basestation that may comprise an antenna, a radio, and/or a controller. Inaspects, an access point is defined by its ability to communicate with aUE according to a single protocol (e.g., 3G, 4G, LTE, 5G, and the like);however, in other aspects, a single access point may communicate with aUE according to multiple protocols. As used herein, a base station maycomprise one access point or more than one access point. Factors thatcan affect the telecommunications transmission include, e.g., locationand size of the base stations, frequency of the transmission, amongother factors.

Generally speaking, many modern UE comprise at least two transmitters;in some configurations, a UE may operate using dual connectivity. Thatis, the UE may use at least a first of its transmitters to communicatean uplink signal to a first access point and at least a second of itstransmitters to communicate an uplink signal to a second access point.In other configurations, a UE may operate using single connectivity,wherein it uses one or more of its transmitters to communicate with asingle access point, base station, or cell site. Whether using dualconnectivity or single connectivity, a UE may have a pre-set maximumtotal uplink power (as will be discussed in greater detail below).Conventionally, a communication session between a UE and an access pointcomprises an uplink handshake, wherein the uplink handshake is an uplinksignal from the UE to an access point, conventionally transmitted at thepre-set maximum uplink power. Once the handshake occurs, the networkand/or the device may determine that the uplink power may be reduced(e.g., if, based on proximity or line of sight, it is determined thatonly half of the maximum pre-set uplink power is necessary toeffectively propagate the uplink signal to the access point). Theopposite, however, is not true; if the uplink handshake fails at themaximum pre-set uplink power, the UE may not increase the power of thetransmission (it may retry again later or attempt to connect to adifferent access point, for example).

Further, as communication protocols rapidly evolve from 3G, to 4G/LTE,to 5G, it is conceived that a UE may benefit from connecting to morethan one access point using more than one protocol. For example, a 5Gcommunication session may have a higher throughput, used for a datasession, and a 4G communication session may have characteristics thatmake it more suitable for a voice session. Thus, it may be desirable forthe UE to be simultaneously connected to more than one access pointusing more than one protocol.

The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and computerreadable media that are an improvement over conventional communicationsbetween a UE and an access point. In accordance with aspects describedherein, network parameters for a wireless communication session betweena UE and each of a first access point and second access point can becollected and/or analyzed to dynamically determine how the device'smaximum total uplink power should be allocated between the UE's firstmaximum uplink power, used by the first transmitter, and the secondmaximum uplink power, used by the second transmitter.

Being able to dynamically modify each of the first and second maximumuplink power, without the limitations of pre-configured native maximumsmay enable the UE to communicate with an access point that may havepreviously been out of reach. Further, dual connectivity may permit theUE to realize the full benefit of diverse protocols and wireless servicefeatures, such as the dependability of 4G and high-bandwidth of 5G (orto use the benefits of any other combination of two protocols). Further,by realizing dual connectivity, the network may be able to betterbalance UEs between cell locations, expediting communication sessions,and consequently reducing network loads. From a UE perspective, a devicemay be able to simultaneously communicate with two access points,increasing throughput.

As employed herein, user equipment (UE) (also referenced herein as auser device or wireless communications device (WCD)) can include anydevice employed by an end-user to communicate with a wirelesstelecommunications network. A UE can include a mobile device, a mobilebroadband adapter, or any other communications device employed tocommunicate with the wireless telecommunications network. A UE, as oneof ordinary skill in the art may appreciate, generally includes one ormore antennas coupled to a radio for exchanging (e.g., transmitting andreceiving) transmissions with a nearby base station. A UE may be, in anembodiment, similar to device 100 described herein with respect to FIG.1.

As used herein, user devices that are spatially distributed with respectto a first and second access point may be said to be in differentlocations relative to one or more access points. That is, a firstdevice's location may be described herein as being further from a firstaccess point, relative to a second device. Such distance-relatedterminology may be read to mean a distance at ground level between theground level of the access point and the ground level of the device, itmay refer to the distance actually traveled by the signal (in aspects,affected by multipath, reflection, etc), and/or it may refer to a signalstrength (e.g., a first device is further from an access point than asecond device based on the downlink signal received at the first devicebeing weaker than the downlink signal received at the second device).

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present disclosure is directed to asystem for dynamically allocating maximum uplink power in a WCD, thesystem comprising: a first access point, the first access pointconfigured to transmit a first wireless downlink signal to the WCD; asecond access point, the second access point configured to transmit asecond wireless downlink signal to the WCD; and a processor, theprocessor configured to perform operations comprising: determining atleast one network parameter for a wireless communication session betweenthe WCD and each of the first access point and the second access point;and in response to the determined at least one network parameter,instruct the WCD to dynamically modify each of a first maximum uplinkpower and a second maximum uplink power, wherein the first maximumuplink power is used by a first transmitter of the WCD to transmit afirst wireless uplink signal to the first access point and the secondmaximum uplink power is used by a second transmitter of the WD totransmit a second wireless uplink signal to the second access point.

A second aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method fordynamic power allocation in a wireless communications device. The methodincludes receiving an indication that a first wireless downlink signalhas been received by the WCD from a first access point, receiving anindication that a second wireless downlink signal has been received bythe WCD from a second access point, determining at least one networkparameter for a wireless communication session between the WCD and eachof the first access point and the second access point, and instructingthe WCD to dynamically modify, in response to the determined at leastone network parameter, each of a first maximum uplink power and secondmaximum uplink power, the first maximum uplink power being the maximumavailable power to be transmitted by a first transmitter of the WCD andthe second maximum uplink power being the maximum available power to betransmitted by a second transmitter of the WCD.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a non-transitorycomputer storage media storing computer-useable instructions that, whenused by one or more processors cause the processors to receive anindication that a first wireless downlink signal has been received bythe WCD from a first access point, receive an indication that a secondwireless downlink signal has been received by the WCD from a secondaccess point, determine at least one network parameter for a wirelesscommunication session between the WCD and each of the first access pointand the second access point, and instruct the WCD to dynamically modify,in response to the determined at least one network parameter, each of afirst maximum uplink power and second maximum uplink power, the firstmaximum uplink power being the maximum available power to be transmittedby a first transmitter of the WCD and the second maximum uplink powerbeing the maximum available power to be transmitted by a secondtransmitter of the WCD.

Referring to FIG. 1, a diagram is depicted of an exemplary computingenvironment suitable for use in implementations of the presentdisclosure. In particular, the exemplary computer environment is shownand designated generally as computing device 100. Computing device 100is but one example of a suitable computing environment and is notintended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use orfunctionality of the invention. Neither should computing device 100 beinterpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any oneor combination of components illustrated. In aspects, the computingdevice 100 may be a UE, WCD, or other user device, capable of two-waywireless communications with an access point. Some non-limiting examplesof the computing device 100 include a cell phone, tablet, pager,personal electronic device, wearable electronic device, activitytracker, desktop computer, laptop, PC, and the like.

The implementations of the present disclosure may be described in thegeneral context of computer code or machine-useable instructions,including computer-executable instructions such as program components,being executed by a computer or other machine, such as a personal dataassistant or other handheld device. Generally, program components,including routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, andthe like, refer to code that performs particular tasks or implementsparticular abstract data types. Implementations of the presentdisclosure may be practiced in a variety of system configurations,including handheld devices, consumer electronics, general-purposecomputers, specialty computing devices, etc. Implementations of thepresent disclosure may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote-processing devices thatare linked through a communications network.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, computing device 100 includes bus102 that directly or indirectly couples the following devices: memory104, one or more processors 106, one or more presentation components108, input/output (110) ports 110, I/O components 112, and power supply114. Bus 102 represents what may be one or more busses (such as anaddress bus, data bus, or combination thereof). Although the devices ofFIG. 1 are shown with lines for the sake of clarity, in reality,delineating various components is not so clear, and metaphorically, thelines would more accurately be grey and fuzzy. For example, one mayconsider a presentation component such as a display device to be one ofI/O components 112. Also, processors, such as one or more processors106, have memory. The present disclosure hereof recognizes that such isthe nature of the art, and reiterates that FIG. 1 is merely illustrativeof an exemplary computing environment that can be used in connectionwith one or more implementations of the present disclosure. Distinctionis not made between such categories as “workstation,” “server,”“laptop,” “handheld device,” etc., as all are contemplated within thescope of FIG. 1 and refer to “computer” or “computing device.”

Computing device 100 typically includes a variety of computer-readablemedia. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can beaccessed by computing device 100 and includes both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise computerstorage media and communication media. Computer storage media includesboth volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable mediaimplemented in any method or technology for storage of information suchas computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data.

Computer storage media includes RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or othermemory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices. Computer storage media doesnot comprise a propagated data signal.

Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includesany information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any ofthe above should also be included within the scope of computer-readablemedia.

Memory 104 includes computer-storage media in the form of volatileand/or nonvolatile memory. Memory 104 may be removable, nonremovable, ora combination thereof. Exemplary memory includes solid-state memory,hard drives, optical-disc drives, etc. Computing device 100 includes oneor more processors 106 that read data from various entities such as bus102, memory 104 or I/O components 112. One or more presentationcomponents 108 presents data indications to a person or other device.Exemplary one or more presentation components 108 include a displaydevice, speaker, printing component, vibrating component, etc. I/O ports110 allow computing device 100 to be logically coupled to other devicesincluding I/O components 112, some of which may be built in computingdevice 100. Illustrative I/O components 112 include a microphone,joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device,etc.

A first radio 120 and second radio 130 represent radios that facilitatecommunication with a wireless telecommunications network. In aspects,the first radio 120 utilizes a first transmitter 122 to communicate withthe wireless telecommunications network and the second radio 130utilizes the second transmitter 132 to communicate with the wirelesstelecommunications network. Though two radios are shown, it is expresslyconceived that a computing device with a single radio (i.e., the firstradio 120 or the second radio 130) could facilitate communication withthe wireless telecommunications network via both the first transmitter122 and the second transmitter 132. Illustrative wirelesstelecommunications technologies include CDMA, GPRS, TDMA, GSM, and thelike. One or both of the first radio 120 and the second radio 130 mayadditionally or alternatively facilitate other types of wirelesscommunications including Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE, 3G, 4G, LTE, 5G, NR, VoLTE,or other VoIP communications. As can be appreciated, in variousembodiments, radio 116 can be configured to support multipletechnologies and/or multiple radios can be utilized to support multipletechnologies. A wireless telecommunications network might include anarray of devices, which are not shown so as to not obscure more relevantaspects of the invention. Components such as a base station, acommunications tower, or even access points (as well as othercomponents) can provide wireless connectivity in some embodiments.

FIG. 2 provides an exemplary network environment in whichimplementations of the present disclosure may be employed. Such anetwork environment is illustrated and designated generally as networkenvironment 200. Network environment 200 is but one example of asuitable network environment and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention.Neither should the network environment be interpreted as having anydependency or requirement relating to any one or combination ofcomponents illustrated.

Network environment 200 includes user devices (items 202, 204, and 206),access point 214 (which may be a cell site, base station, or the like),network 208, database 210, and dynamic power allocation engine 212. Innetwork environment 200, user devices may take on a variety of forms,such as a personal computer (PC), a user device, a smart phone, a smartwatch, a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a mobile device, a tabletcomputer, a wearable computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), aserver, a CD player, an MP3 player, a global positioning system (GPS)device, a video player, a handheld communications device, a workstation,a router, a hotspot, and any combination of these delineated devices, orany other device (such as the computing device 100) that communicatesvia wireless communications with the access point 214 in order tointeract with a public or private network.

In some aspects, the user devices (items 202, 204, and 206) cancorrespond to computing device 100 in FIG. 1. Thus, a user device caninclude, for example, a display(s), a power source(s) (e.g., a battery),a data store(s), a speaker(s), memory, a buffer(s), a radio(s) and thelike. In some implementations, a user device (items 202, 204, and 206)comprises a wireless or mobile device with which a wirelesstelecommunication network(s) can be utilized for communication (e.g.,voice and/or data communication). In this regard, the user device can beany mobile computing device that communicates by way of a wirelessnetwork, for example, a 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE, CDMA, or any other type ofnetwork.

In some cases, the user devices (items 202, 204, and 206) in networkenvironment 200 can optionally utilize network 208 to communicate withother computing devices (e.g., a mobile device(s), a server(s), apersonal computer(s), etc.) through cell site 214. The network 208 maybe a telecommunications network(s), or a portion thereof. Atelecommunications network might include an array of devices orcomponents (e.g., one or more base stations), some of which are notshown. Those devices or components may form network environments similarto what is shown in FIG. 2, and may also perform methods in accordancewith the present disclosure. Components such as terminals, links, andnodes (as well as other components) can provide connectivity in variousimplementations. Network 208 can include multiple networks, as well asbeing a network of networks, but is shown in more simple form so as tonot obscure other aspects of the present disclosure.

Network 208 can be part of a telecommunication network that connectssubscribers to their immediate service provider. In some instances,network 208 can be associated with a telecommunications provider thatprovides services (e.g., LTE) to user devices, such as user devices 202,204, and 206. For example, network 208 may provide voice, SMS, and/ordata services to user devices or corresponding users that are registeredor subscribed to utilize the services provided by a telecommunicationsprovider. Network 208 can comprise any communication network providingvoice, SMS, and/or data service(s), such as, for example, a 1× circuitvoice, a 3G network (e.g., CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, GSM, UMTS), a 4Gnetwork (WiMAX, LTE, HSDPA), or a 5G network.

In some implementations, access point 214 is configured to communicatewith user devices, such as user devices 202, 204, and 206 that arelocated within the geographical area, or cell, covered by radio antennasof cell site 214. Access point 214 may include one or more basestations, base transmitter stations, radios, antennas, antenna arrays,power amplifiers, transmitters/receivers, digital signal processors,control electronics, GPS equipment, and the like. In particular, accesspoint 214 may selectively communicate with the user devices usingdynamic beamforming. When a cell has users with user devices spatiallyseparated from one another (e.g., high rise buildings, offices duringthe workday) at one time and spatially grouped together (e.g.,nightclub, convention) at another time, traditional beamforming may notbe able to capture most or all of the user devices at one time oranother (or both) as adjusting a beamform only horizontally or onlyadjusting gain would not allow the beam to dynamically andsimultaneously change in the x, y, and z planes (at least some change ineach plane being consistent with the term 3D beamforming as usedherein).

As shown, access point 214 is in communication with dynamic powerallocation engine 212, which comprises various components that areutilized, in various implementations, to perform one or more methods fordynamically adjusting 3D beamforms emitted from an antenna array in oneor more wireless communications networks. In some implementations,dynamic power allocation engine 212 comprises components including areceiver 216, a monitor 217, an analyzer 218, and a power optimizer 220.However, in other implementations, more or less components than thoseshown in FIG. 2 may be utilized to carry out aspects of the inventiondescribed herein.

The receiver 216 of the dynamic beamforming engine 212 is generallyresponsible for receiving information from various user devices, such asuser devices 202, 204, and 206, which are within the coverage area ofaccess point 214. Information sent from a user device to the accesspoint 214 may comprise location information of the user device andnetwork parameters determined at or by the user device that includesinformation on how good or bad the communication channel quality is(SINR, pathloss, or the like) and the device power levels (maximumuplink powers and maximum total uplink power). Location information maybe based on GPS or other satellite location services, terrestrialtriangulation, an access point location, or any other means of obtainingcoarse or fine location information. Network parameters may indicate arealized uplink and/or downlink transmission data rate, observedsignal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) and/or signal strength atthe user device, pathloss, or throughput of the connection. Locationand/or network parameters may take into account the user devicecapability, such as the number of antennas and the type of receiver usedfor detection.

The monitor 217 is generally responsible for determining networkparameters and a plurality of uplink footprints emitted by each of theuser devices 202, 204, and 206. As mentioned, some network parametersmay be determined by the user device and passed to the receiver 216,other network parameters may be determined by the monitor 217. Themonitor 217 may make said determinations based on a user device'sdefault maximum uplink power. In other aspects, the monitor 217 may makesaid determinations based on the most recent maximum uplink power.Whichever power levels are used, the monitor 217 may use it as abaseline for determining and instructing adjustments. As used herein,the term uplink footprint may be considered to be synonymous with aradiation pattern of a user device, such as user device 202, 204, and206 at a particular time. The uplink footprint may generally refer tothe area in space in which the user device 202, 204, and 206 emits atransitory signal having enough signal strength (dBm) to be effectivelyreceived and processed by an access point, such as access point 214, tosustain a wireless communication session. In aspects, the monitor 217may determine a first uplink footprint for a first transmitter of theuser device 202, 204, and 206 and determine a second uplink footprintfor a second transmitter of the user device 202, 204, and 206.

The analyzer 218 is generally responsible for combining location and anynetwork parameter information received by the receiver 216, andcomparing it to the plurality of uplink footprints and any networkparameters as determined by the monitor 217. The analyzer 218 mayconsider whether access point 214 is within one of the plurality ofuplink footprints of the user device. The analyzer 218 may also considerthe quality of an uplink signal from the user device to determine if oneof the first maximum uplink power and the second maximum uplink powershould be increased to establish, maintain, and/or improve a wirelesscommunication session with the access point 214. As will be discussedherein, the analyzer may compare the location of the user devices withrespect to the access point, the pathloss and the SINR of the downlinkand/or uplink signals (among other network parameters) with theplurality of uplink footprints. In aspects, when multiple networkparameters and/or location information is received from the same userdevice, the analyzer may use an average, mean, median or any otherstatistical analysis to determine a single network parameter and/orlocation of a particular user device.

The power optimizer 220 is generally responsible for determining how oneor more of the plurality of uplink footprints of a user device should beadjusted and instructing the device to execute the adjustment. The poweroptimizer 220 may determine, based on the analysis performed by theanalyzer 218, that the a first of the plurality of uplink footprints isexcessive to communicate with a first access point and a second of theplurality of uplink footprints is inadequate to communicate with asecond access point. The power optimizer 220 may thus instruct therelevant user device to reduce the maximum uplink power associated withtransmitting the first of the plurality of uplink footprints andincrease the maximum uplink power associated with transmitting thesecond of the plurality of uplink footprints. Alternatively oradditionally, the power optimizer 220 may determine, based on theanalysis performed by the analyzer 218 a first maximum uplink powerneeded to effectively communicate with a first access point a secondmaximum uplink power needed to effectively communicate with a secondaccess point and instruct the user device to execute the adjustment(s)necessary to effect the first and second maximum uplink powers (withoutregard to a pre-existing plurality of uplink footprints).

Turning now to FIGS. 3A-3B, a representation of a system 300 comprises afirst access point 312 and a second access point 322 wirelesslycommunicating with a UE 330 in accordance with aspects herein. The firstaccess point 312, the second access point 322, and the UE 330 are butone example of suitable configurations and are not intended to suggestany limitations as to the scope of use or functionality of embodimentsdescribed herein. Neither should the configuration be interpreted ashaving any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combinationof components illustrated.

In some aspects, the first access point 312 comprises a 5G or MIMOaccess point, and the second access point 322 comprises a 4G or eNodeBaccess point. That is, the first access point 312 may wirelesslycommunicate with the UE 330 via a 5G wireless communication protocol,and the second access point 322 may wirelessly communicate with the UE330 via a 4G wireless communication protocol. In other aspects, thefirst access point 312 may be any of a first type of access pointconfigured to wirelessly communicate with the UE 330 via a firstwireless communication protocol, and the second access point 322 may beany of a second type of access point configured to wirelesslycommunicate with the UE 330 via a second wireless communicationprotocol. For example, the first access point 312 may be an eNodeB,capable of wirelessly communicating with the UE 330 via 4G or LTEcommunication protocols. The second access point 322 may be a nodeB,capable of wirelessly communicating with the UA 330 via 3G. Anycombination thereof is expressly conceived and the present disclosure isnot limited to any one or more particular types of access points nor anyone or more particular types of wireless communication protocols.

The first access point 312 may be said to be located on or near a firstbase station 310 at a first site. The second access point 322 may besaid to be located on or near a second base station 320 at a secondsite. Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 3b , the first access point 312 andthe second access point 322 may be disposed at or near the first basestation 310, and may be co-located at the same site. Returning to FIG.3a , and strictly for illustrative purposes, the first access point 312is shown on a tower and the second access point 322 is shown atop astructure; however, the first access point 312 and/or the second accesspoint 322 may be disposed in a variety of manners, including but notlimited to, on a tower, on a structure, disposed on a mobile asset(e.g., a vehicle), in the window of a building, or the like. Further,despite the first access point 312 and the second axis 0.322 being shownas macro cells, the first access point 312 and/or the second accesspoint 322 may be a macro cell, micro cell, femto cell, small cell,router, repeater, or any other nexus between the wireless communicationdevice and the wireless network.

Seen in FIGS. 3a and 3b , the first access point 312 may communicate afirst wireless downlink signal 340 to the UE 330, and a firsttransmitter 332 of the UE 330 may communicate a first wireless uplinksignal 342 to the first access point 312. The second access point 322may communicate a second wireless downlink signal 350 to the UE 330, anda second transmitter 334 of the UE 330 may communicate a second wirelessuplink signal 352 to the second access point 322. Any one or more of thefirst access point 312 and the second access point 322 may compriseand/or be coupled to (including communicatively coupled to) a processor,such as a server, database, computer, a combination of components suchas the dynamic power allocation engine 212, a radio, a controller, orthe like. In aspects, the processor may be configured to performoperations comprising determining at least one network perimeter for awireless communication session between the UE 330 and each of the firstaccess point 312 and the second access point 322. In response to such adetermination, the processor may instruct the UE 330 to dynamicallymodify each of the first maximum uplink power and a second maximumuplink power, wherein the first maximum uplink power is used by thefirst transmitter 332 to transmit the first wireless uplink signal 342to the first access point 312 and a second maximum uplink power is usedby the second transmitter 334 to transmit a second wireless uplinksignal 352 to the second access point 322.

As seen in FIG. 3a , in instances where the first access point 312 andthe second access point 322 are not co-located, it can be said that boththe first wireless downlink signal 340 and the first wireless uplinksignal 342 travel a first distance 344 between the first access point312 and the UE 330. It can be said that both the second wirelessdownlink signal 350 and the second wireless uplink signal 352 travel asecond distance 354 between the second access point 322 and the UA 330.As seen in FIG. 3b , in instances where the first access point 312 andthe second access point 322 are co-located, it can be said that all ofthe first wireless downlink signal 340, the first wireless uplink signal342, the second wireless downlink signal 350, and the second wirelessuplink signal 352 travel the first distance 344.

FIG. 4 illustrates a shortcoming of conventional uplink power control. Afirst access point 412 located at a first base station 410 transmits afirst wireless downlink signal having a first wireless downlinkfootprint 414. A second access point 422 located at a second basestation 420 transmits a second wireless downlink signal having a secondwireless downlink footprint 424. For the purposes of FIG. 4, a UE 430 iswithin the first wireless downlink footprint 414 and the second wirelessdownlink footprint 424. The UE 430 comprises a first transmitter 432transmitting a first wireless uplink signal 442 and a second transmitter434 transmitting a second wireless uplink signal 452. The UE 430 mayhave, for instance, a maximum total uplink power of 27 dBm.Conventionally, this maximum total uplink power is divided in half,meaning that the first transmitter 432 has a first maximum uplink powerof 24 dBm and the second transmitter 434 has a second maximum uplinkpower of 24 dBm. At or near the beginning of a wireless communicationsession the UE 430 may perform an uplink handshake with each of thefirst access point 412 and second access point 422. During such aprocedure, the first transmitter 432 transmits the first wireless uplinksignal 442 at the first maximum uplink power of 24 dBm. This results ina first uplink footprint 444. As seen in FIG. 4, the first uplinkfootprint 444 does not capture the first access point 412; this meansthat even though the first wireless downlink signal from the firstaccess point 412 can reach the UE 430, the first access point 412 andthe UE 430 cannot have a wireless communication session because thefirst wireless uplink signal from the UE 430 cannot reach the firstaccess point 412. The second transmitter 434 transmits the secondwireless uplink signal 452 at the second maximum uplink power of 24 dBm,resulting in a second uplink footprint 454. As illustrated in FIG. 4,the second uplink footprint captures the second access point 422.Conventional power allocation may determine that excess uplink power isbeing used by the second transmitter 434 to transmit the second wirelessuplink signal 452 and the UE may be instructed (or instruct itself) toreduce the uplink power, resulting in the second uplink footprint 454being reduced by a distance 455 to an adjusted second uplink footprint456. The adjusted second uplink footprint 456 continues to capture thesecond access point 422, but by using less power. However, because thefirst maximum uplink power cannot exceed 24 dBm, the UE 430 has no wayto adjust to communicate with the first access point 412.

Turning now to FIG. 5, the impact of a system for dynamically allocatingthe maximum total uplink power of a UE 530 is illustrated in accordancewith aspects herein. A first access point 512 at a first base station510 transmits a first wireless downlink signal having a first wirelessdownlink footprint 514. A second access point 522 located at a secondbase station 520 transmits a second wireless downlink signal having asecond wireless downlink footprint 524. The first wireless downlinksignal is communicated to the UE 530 using a first protocol and thesecond wireless downlink signal is communicated to the UE 530 using asecond protocol. In aspects, each of the first protocol and the secondprotocol may be any protocol as long they are not the same protocol(e.g., the first protocol is 5G and the second protocol is 4G). In otheraspects, the first wireless downlink signal and the second wirelessdownlink signal may use the same protocol (e.g., both 5G), but may usedifferent frequency bands (e.g., the first wireless downlink signal uses5G on an n41 band, and the second wireless downlink signal uses 5G on amillimeter wave band).

As seen in FIG. 5, the UE 530 is within the first wireless downlinkfootprint 514 and the second wireless downlink footprint 524, meaningthe UE 530 is capable of receiving and/or usefully processing a downlinksignal from both access points. The UE 530 comprise a first transmitter532 transmitting a first wireless uplink signal 542 and a secondtransmitter 534 transmitting a second wireless uplink signal 552. Likethe UE 430 of FIG. 4, the UE 530 of FIG. 5 may have a maximum totaluplink power. The maximum total uplink power may be set by a devicemaker, carrier, regulatory body, or any other entity. Limits on maximumtotal uplink power are necessary to avoid excessive noise created by UEson the wireless network, for example. As such, the maximum total uplinkpower may be fixed, semi-fixed, controlled by hardware, firmware, orsoftware, but in any case, for the present disclosure, it is assumedthat the maximum total uplink power may not be increased during anyparticular wireless communication session. In aspects, the maximum totaluplink power may be 23, 26, 27, 29, or 30 dBm, or may be any powerbetween 10 and 35 dBm.

For the purposes of highlighting a difference from conventional powerallocation, the first base station 412, second base station 422, and UE430 of FIG. 4 may be said to be in the same position, relative to eachother, as the first base station 512, second base station 522, and UE530 of FIG. 5. At or near the beginning of a wireless communicationsession between the UE 530 and each of the first access point 512 andthe second access point 522, the UE 530 may perform an uplink handshakewith each of the first access point 512 and second access point 522.During such a procedure, the first transmitter 532 transmits the firstwireless uplink signal 542 at a first maximum uplink power resulting ina first uplink footprint 544, and the second transmitter 534 transmits asecond wireless uplink signal 552 resulting in a second uplink footprint554.

In a first aspect, dynamic allocation of the UE 530's maximum totaluplink power may occur after an attempted uplink handshake. An initialuplink handshake may take place or be attempted between the firsttransmitter 532 and the first access point 512 using an initial firstmaximum uplink power, and between the second transmitter 534 and thesecond access point 522 using an initial second maximum uplink power.The initial first and second maximum uplink power may be the mostrecently used maximum uplink powers (e.g., during the most recentcommunication session, the first maximum uplink power was 20 dBm and thesecond maximum uplink power was 26 dBm), an even portion of the maximumtotal uplink power (e.g., each of the first and second maximum uplinkpowers are 24 dBm), or based on historical or other known informationabout the UE and/or the first and second access points (e.g., based onthe UE's geographic location, if it is known that access points usingthe protocol of the first access point 512 are more sparsely situatedthan access points using the protocol of the second access point 522,the first maximum uplink power may be set to 25 dBm and the secondmaximum uplink power may be set to 22.7 dBm).

Using the initial first maximum uplink power, the first uplink footprint544 does not capture the first access point 512; this means that eventhough the first wireless downlink signal from the first access point512 can reach the UE 530, the first access point 512 and the UE 530cannot have a wireless communication session because the first wirelessuplink signal from the UE 530 cannot reach the first access point 512.This failure could be based on any one or more network parameters,wherein a network parameter comprises pathloss, SINR, multipathing,atmospheric ducting, distance between the UE and an access point, heightof eye of the UE, line of sight between the UE and an access point, orany other atmospheric, electrical, electromagnetic, or mechanical effector phenomenon. Using the initial second maximum uplink power, the firstuplink footprint 554 captures and exceeds the requirement to communicatethe second uplink signal to the second access point 522 based on any oneor more network parameters. At least for the purposes of thisdisclosure, the amount of the second maximum uplink power that causesthe second uplink footprint to exceed what is required to establishand/or maintain a wireless communication session with the second accesspoint 522 will be referred to as the power headroom.

Accordingly, it may be determined, based on one or more networkparameters, that the first transmitter 532 of the UE 530 has attemptedand failed to establish and/or maintain an uplink connection to thefirst access point 512 and that the second transmitter 534 hasestablished and/or maintained an uplink connection to the second accesspoint 522 with power headroom. Such a determination may be made at/bythe UE, at/by either or both of the first access point 512 and thesecond access point 522, a processor such as a network controller, orany other device, engine, or component communicatively coupled to thewireless communication network and capable of determining the one ormore network parameters. Based on said determination, the UE 530 may (ifdetermined locally) adjust, or be instructed to adjust (if determinedremotely, relative to the UE), one or more of the first and secondmaximum uplink powers. Such an adjustment may be the result of aninverse relationship between the first maximum uplink power and thesecond maximum uplink power, that is, as the second maximum uplink poweris reduced, the first maximum uplink power may be proportionatelyincreased. Once the first maximum uplink power is increased, an uplinkhandshake may be re-attempted. If the uplink handshake is successfulbetween the first transmitter 532 and the first access point 512, it ispossible that the first maximum uplink power has power headroom, inwhich case the UE 530 may transmit the first uplink signal 542 at anuplink power less than the first maximum uplink power.

A hypothetical example of the aforementioned aspect is best explained inthe context of FIG. 5. For the purpose of this hypothetical, the UE 530has a maximum total uplink power of 27 dBm and the initial first andsecond maximum uplink powers are based on dividing the maximum uplinkpower (each of the initial first and second maximum uplink powers arehalf of 27 dBm, or 24 dBm each). The first transmitter 532 transmits thefirst uplink signal 542 according to a first protocol (e.g., 4G) at theinitial first maximum uplink power of 24 dBm, resulting in the firstuplink footprint 544. The second transmitter 534 transmits the seconduplink signal 551 according to a second protocol (e.g., 5G) at theinitial second maximum uplink power of 24 dBm, resulting in the seconduplink footprint 554. A processor communicatively coupled to the secondaccess point determines that a first network parameter (high pathloss)has resulted in a failed uplink handshake between the first transmitter532 and the first access point 512 (seen as the first access point 512being outside the first uplink footprint 544). The same processor mayalso determine that a second network parameter (lower pathloss) hasresulted in a successful uplink handshake between the second transmitter534 and the second access point 522 (seen as the second access point 522being well within the second uplink footprint 554) with a power headroomof 4 dBm. Based on these determined network parameters, the processorinstructs the UE 530 to reduce the second maximum uplink power by 4 dBm,to 20 dBm, and to proportionately increase the first maximum uplinkpower by 2 dBm, to 26 dBm. Just as prior to this dynamic allocation, thesum of the first and second maximum uplink powers equal the maximumtotal uplink power of 27 dBm. By increasing the first maximum uplinkpower, the first transmitter 532 may increase the first uplink footprintby a distance 545 to yield a modified first uplink footprint 546,encompassing the first access point 512. By decreasing the secondmaximum uplink power, the second transmitter 534 may decrease the seconduplink footprint by a distance 555 to yield a modified second uplinkfootprint 556. As the first access point 512 is within the modifiedfirst uplink footprint 545 and the second access point 522 is within themodified second uplink footprint 556, the UE 530 is able to establishand/or maintain dual connectivity with both access points.

In another aspect, dynamic allocation of the UE's maximum total uplinkpower may occur prior to one or more actual or attempted uplinkhandshakes. That is, the maximum total uplink power of the UE 530 may bedynamically allocated prior to one or more of the first transmitter 532establishing or attempting an uplink connection with the first accesspoint 512 and the second transmitter 534 establishing or attempting anuplink connection with the second access point 522. In such an aspect,the UE 530 may receive a first wireless downlink signal from the firstaccess point 512 and receive a second wireless downlink signal from thesecond access point 522. In aspects, one or more network parametersbased on the first and/or second wireless downlink signals may bedetermined. Such a network parameter may comprise pathloss, SINR,multipathing, atmospheric ducting, distance between the UE and an accesspoint, height of eye of the UE, line of sight between the UE and anaccess point, or any other atmospheric, electrical, electromagnetic, ormechanical effect or phenomenon. As can be appreciated, one or morenetwork parameters may be determined prior to any actual or attempteduplink handshake.

Based on the one or more determined network parameters, it may bedetermined that an uplink handshake would fail if attempted at aninitial maximum uplink power. Such a determination may be made by the UE530, by one or more of the first access point 512 and the second accesspoint 522, by any other processor such as a network controller, or byany other device, engine, or component communicatively coupled to thewireless communication network and capable of determining the one ormore network parameters. In some aspects, it may become necessary forthe UE 530 to communicate to the wireless communication network, via atleast one of the first access point 512 and the second access point 522,that the UE 530 has received the first and second wireless downlinksignals. In some aspects, this may be accomplished by the UE 530transmitting a sounding reference signal, or by carrying out an uplinkhandshake with one of the first access point 512 and the second accesspoint 522. For example, the UE 530 may have a standing instruction toperform an initial handshake with access points, such as the secondaccess point 522, that communicate via a particular second protocol(e.g., 4G). This standing instruction could be based on cell density,network coverage, or a characteristic of the signal used to communicatewith the UE 530, such as bandwidth or wavelength. In one example, the UE530 may have a standing instruction to attempt an initial uplinkhandshake with the lowest available frequency band in a known area inorder to leverage a high wavelength that may minimize attenuation andscattering.

Upon the determination, based on at least one network parameter, that afirst uplink handshake between the first transmitter 532 and the firstaccess point 512 would fail if attempted at an initial first maximumuplink power and/or that a second uplink handshake between the secondtransmitter 534 and the second access point 522 would have (or has)power headroom at an initial second maximum uplink power, the UE 530 mayadjust (if determined locally), or be instructed to adjust (ifdetermined remotely, relative to the UE), one or more of the first andsecond maximum uplink powers. As in other aspects, such an adjustmentmay be the result of an inverse relationship between the first maximumuplink power and the second maximum uplink power, that is, as the secondmaximum uplink power is reduced, the first maximum uplink power may beproportionately increased. Once the first maximum uplink power isincreased, an uplink handshake may be initially performed. If the uplinkhandshake is successful between the first transmitter 532 and the firstaccess point 512, it is possible that the first maximum uplink power haspower headroom, in which case the UE 530 may transmit the first uplinksignal 542 at an uplink power less than the first maximum uplink power.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an illustration of a partial network environment600 is with multiple UEs is depicted in accordance with aspects herein.In aspects, the network environment 600 may incorporate any one or morefeatures of any of the previous portions of this disclosure. In otheraspects, the network environment 600 may comprise a first access point612, disposed at a first base station 610 at a first cell site, and asecond access point 622 disposed at a second base station 620 at asecond cell site. The first access point 612 may communicate a firstwireless downlink signal 640 to a first UE 630 according to a firstcommunication protocol, and the second access point 622 may communicatea second wireless downlink signal 650 to the first UE 630 according to asecond communication protocol. The first UE 630 may comprise a firsttransmitter 632 for communicating a first wireless uplink signal 642 tothe first access point 612 according to the first communication protocoland using a first maximum uplink power. The first UE 630 may alsocomprise a second transmitter 634 for communicating a second wirelessuplink signal 652 to the second access point 622 according to the secondcommunication protocol and using a second maximum uplink power.

The first access point 612 may communicate a third wireless downlinksignal 670 to a second UE 660 according to the first communicationprotocol, and the second access point 622 may communicate a fourthwireless downlink signal 680 to the second UE 660 according to thesecond communication protocol. The second UE 660 may comprise a thirdtransmitter 662 for communicating a third wireless uplink signal 672 tothe first access point 612 according to the first communication protocoland using a third maximum uplink power. The second UE 660 may alsocomprise a fourth transmitter 664 for communicating a fourth wirelessuplink signal 682 to the second access point 622 according to the secondcommunication protocol and using a fourth maximum uplink power.

In aspects, the first and third wireless downlink signals have differentpropagation properties than the second and fourth wireless downlinksignals, which may impact network parameters, as defined herein. Thisdifference may, for example, be based on different frequency bands usedby each of the first and second access points to communicate accordingto their respective protocols. In aspects, the first access point may bea gNodeB, configured to communicate via 5G, in the 2.5 GHz band. Inaspects, the second access point may be an eNodeB, configured tocommunicate via 4G in the 850 MHz band. Because of the differentwavelengths, it may be said (for example, by applying the Friistransmission equation) that the shorter wavelength of the first andthird wireless downlink signals may experience greater free space pathloss than the longer wavelength of the second and fourth wirelessdownlink signals. As a result, even though the distance between thefirst access point 612 and the second UE 660, and the distance betweenthe second access point 622 and the first UE 630 may be the same, thenetwork parameters experienced by the first UE 630 with respect to thesecond access point 622 may be different than the network parametersexperienced by the second UE 660 with respect to the first access point612. Accordingly, aspects herein contemplate that network parameters areindependently determined for each and every UE to appropriatelydetermine the unique network parameters that may be used as a basis forthe dynamic power allocation/modification, disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow diagram of an exemplary method 700 for dualconnectivity power control, in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

Initially at block 710, a UE, one or more of a first access point and asecond access point, and/or any other processor such as a networkcontroller, or any other device, engine, or component communicativelycoupled to the wireless communication network and capable of determiningone or more network parameters receives an indication that a firstwireless downlink signal has been received by a UE from a first accesspoint. In aspects, the first wireless downlink signal may becommunicated by the first access point according to a firstcommunication protocol (e.g., 4G) and may be located at a first basestation.

At block 720, a UE, one or more of a first access point and a secondaccess point, and/or any other processor such as a network controller,or any other device, engine, or component communicatively coupled to thewireless communication network and capable of determining one or morenetwork parameters receives an indication that a second wirelessdownlink signal has been received by a UE from a second access point.The second wireless signal may be communicated by the second accesspoint according to a second communication protocol (e.g., 5G) and may belocated at a second base station, wherein the first base station and thesecond base station are located at different sites. In other aspects,the first and second access points may be located at the same basestation or the different first and second base stations may beco-located or in close proximity at the same site. In some aspects, thefirst communication protocol may be different than the secondcommunication protocol; in other aspects, the first communicationprotocol may be the same protocol as the second communication protocolbut the first wireless downlink and uplink signals are communicated indifferent frequency bands/channels than the second wireless downlink anduplink signals.

At block 730, at least one network parameter for a wirelesscommunication session between the UE and each of the first access pointand the second access point is determined. In aspects, the one or morenetwork parameters may be based on any combination of the first wirelessdownlink signal, a first wireless uplink signal, the second wirelessdownlink signal, and a second wireless uplink signal, wherein the firstwireless uplink signal uses the same protocol as the first wirelessdownlink signal (e.g., 4G), and the second wireless uplink signal usesthe same protocol as the second wireless downlink signal (e.g., 5G).Such a network parameter may comprise pathloss, SINR, multipathing,atmospheric ducting, distance between the UE and an access point, heightof eye of the UE, line of sight between the UE and an access point, orany other atmospheric, electrical, electromagnetic, or mechanical effector phenomenon. For example, at block 730, a first network parameter(pathloss) may be determined for a first wireless downlink signal, asecond network parameter (pathloss) may be determined for a secondwireless downlink signal, and a third network parameter (UE location,relative to each of the first and second access point) may bedetermined. By determining the one or more network parameters, it can bedetermined how much power headroom exists for a first wireless uplinksignal communicated by a first transmitter of the UE to the first accesspoint, and thus how much power can be dynamically allocated to increasea second maximum uplink power capable of being used by the secondtransmitter to communicate a second wireless uplink signal to the secondaccess point.

At block 740, the UE may (if determined locally) adjust, or beinstructed to adjust (if determined remotely, relative to the UE), eachof the first and second maximum uplink powers based on the determinationof block 730. In aspects, the dynamic modification of block 740 maycomprise lowering the first maximum uplink power wherein the firstmaximum uplink power exceeds that power required to communicate thefirst wireless uplink signal to the first access point, and increasingthe second maximum uplink power wherein the second maximum uplink poweris inadequate to communicate the second wireless uplink signal to thesecond access point. The dynamic modification of block 740 may, in someaspects, be inversely proportional, that is, if the first maximum uplinkpower is reduced by 100 mW, the second maximum uplink power may beincreased by 100 mW. Non-proportional modifications are alsocontemplated, such as partial proportionality (reducing the firstmaximum uplink power by 100 mW and increasing the second maximum uplinkpower by half (50 mW) of the first maximum uplink power's decrease).Without regard to the modification scheme, the sum dynamic powermodification of block 740 is configured such that the sum of the firstmaximum uplink power and the second maximum uplink power does not exceedthe maximum total uplink power. In discussed above, the maximum totaluplink power may be set based on any number of technological, safety, orregulatory limit. In aspects, the maximum total uplink power may be 23,26, 27, 29, of 30 dBm. In other aspects, the maximum total uplink powermay be in the range of 20 dBM to 33 dBm.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as wellas components not shown, are possible without departing from the scopeof the claims below. Embodiments of our technology have been describedwith the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternativeembodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after andbecause of reading it. Alternative means of implementing theaforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of theclaims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility andmay be employed without reference to other features and subcombinationsand are contemplated within the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for dynamically allocating maximumtotal uplink power in a wireless communication device (WCD), the systemcomprising: a first access point, the first access point configured totransmit a first wireless downlink signal to the WCD; a second accesspoint, the second access point configured to transmit a second wirelessdownlink signal to the WCD; and a processor, the processor configured toperform operations comprising: determine at least one network parameterfor a wireless communication session between the WCD and each of thefirst access point and the second access point, the at least one networkparameter comprising a realized uplink transmission data rate, arealized downlink transmission data rate, an observed signal tointerference plus noise ratio, a received strength receive power, apathloss, a connection throughput, one or more capabilities of the WCD,or a location of the WCD; determine a power headroom used by a firsttransmitter of the WCD to transmit a first wireless uplink signal to thefirst access point; and in response to the determined at least onenetwork parameter, instruct the WCD to reduce a first maximum uplinkpower used by the first transmitter of the WCD to transmit the firstwireless uplink signal to the first access point by a proportion of thepower headroom and at least partially proportionately increase a secondmaximum uplink power used by a second transmitter of the WCD to transmita second wireless uplink signal to the second access point by at least aportion of the power headroom to establish and/or maintain dualconnectivity with the first and second access points.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first access point and the second access point areco-located at a common site.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the firstaccess point is located at a first site and the second access point islocated at a second site.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the firstaccess point communicates with the WCD using an eNodeB.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first access point communicates with the WCD usinga gNodeB.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first access pointcommunicates with the WCD using a first protocol and second access pointcommunicates with the WCD using a second protocol.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein each of the first maximum uplink power and the secondmaximum uplink power is between 15 dBm and 29 dBm.
 8. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the sum of the first maximum uplink power and thesecond maximum uplink power is 29 dBm.
 9. The system of claim 1, whereinthe first maximum uplink power does not equal the second maximum uplinkpower.
 10. A method for dynamic power allocation in a wirelesscommunications device (WCD), the method comprising: receiving anindication that a first wireless downlink signal has been received bythe WCD from a first access point; receiving an indication that a secondwireless downlink signal has been received by the WCD from a secondaccess point; determine at least one network parameter for a wirelesscommunication session between the WCD and each of the first access pointand the second access point, the at least one network parametercomprising a realized uplink transmission data rate, a realized downlinktransmission data rate, an observed signal to interference plus noiseratio, a received strength receive power, a pathloss, a connectionthroughput, one or more capabilities of the WCD, or a location of theWCD; determine a power headroom used by a first transmitter of the WCDto transmit a first wireless uplink signal to the first access point;and instruct the WCD to reduced, in response to the determined at leastone network parameter, a first maximum uplink power by a proportion ofthe power headroom and at least partially proportionately increase asecond maximum uplink power, the first maximum uplink power being themaximum available power to be transmitted by a first transmitter of theWCD and the second maximum uplink power being the maximum availablepower to be transmitted by a second transmitter of the WCD to establishand/or maintain dual connectivity with the first and second accesspoints.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first transmittertransmits a first uplink signal using a first communication protocol andthe second transmitter transmits a second uplink signal using a secondcommunication protocol, the first communication protocol being differentthan the second communication protocol.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein the first access point is located at a first base station andthe second access point is located at a second base station.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the first access point is co-located at thesame site as the second access point.
 14. The method of claim 10,wherein the sum of the first maximum uplink power and the second maximumuplink power does not exceed a WCD-native maximum total uplink power.15. A non-transitory computer storage media storing computer-usableinstructions that, when used by one or more processors, cause the one ormore processors to: receive an indication that a first wireless downlinksignal has been received by a wireless communications device (WCD) froma first access point; receive an indication that a second wirelessdownlink signal has been received by the WCD from a second access pointdetermine at least one network parameter for a wireless communicationsession between the WCD and each of the first access point and thesecond access point, the at least one network parameter comprising arealized uplink transmission data rate, a realized downlink transmissiondata rate, an observed signal to interference plus noise ratio, areceived strength receive power, a pathloss, a connection throughput,one or more capabilities of the WCD, or a location of the WCD; determinea power headroom used by a first transmitter of the WCD to transmit afirst wireless uplink signal to the first access point; and instruct theWCD to reduce, in response to the determined at least one networkparameter, a first maximum uplink power by a proportion of the powerheadroom and at least partially proportionately increase a secondmaximum uplink power, the first maximum uplink power being the maximumavailable power to be transmitted by a first transmitter of the WCD andthe second maximum uplink power being the maximum available power to betransmitted by a second transmitter of the WCD to establish and/ormaintain dual connectivity with the first and second access points. 16.The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 15, wherein the firstmaximum uplink power is used by a first power amplifier of the WCD tocommunicate with a first access point and the second maximum uplinkpower is used by a second power amplifier of the WCD to communicate witha second access point.
 17. The non-transitory computer storage media ofclaim 16, wherein the WCD communicates with the first access point usinga first wireless communication protocol and the WCD communicates withthe second access point using a second wireless communication protocol.